Cap and dropper



L. S. BECKETT CAP AND DROPPER Jan. 30, 1940.

Filed Jan. 6, 1939 r/ w\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' A.

Patented Jan. 30, 1940 v UNITED STATES Mm iCE 4 Claims.

The principal object of my invention isan improved dispensing unit. Another object is an improved combination container cap and fluid dispensing unit. Among other objects there may be cited means to provide an improved fluid dropper; to effect control of flow of a fluid in a droplet form; to eliminate inaccuracy and non-uniformity in rubber suction droppers and introduce an improved suction dropper; to present a dropper which is equally effective at all levels of a fluidin a container; and generally to make available a durable, efficient, simple and cheap fluid dispenser. I I

The invention comprises means for allowing displacement of a fluid in a container in a restricted manner.

. In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation ofv the dispensing unit provided with a protective cover and illustrated in association with a bottleshaped container.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the protective cover, referred to in described Fig. 1, having been removed and its position indicated in broken lines. I

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of a dispensing unit inwhich no provisions for a cover have been made. v I Fig. 4 is a View in central vertical cross section of my dispensing unit illustrated in threaded engagement with a container fragmentarily shown.

Fig. 5 is a view in central vertical cross section illustrating a modification of dispensing unit construction.

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on-line 6-6 of Fig. 4.1

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

of my improved dispensing unit as associated with a suction container. v

Referring in detail to the drawing and in particular to Figs. 1-4 inclusive, l indicates generally the dispensing unit which comprises a housing 2 and a plug element 3.

The housing 2 may be constructed in any desired manner as for example it may be constructed as a cap or cover for a container or it may comprise one end of a container or suction body. As a cap its use is contemplated with any type of container and the cap illustration has been adhered to in the figures of the drawing with this intended to be done in no limiting sense. Similarly, any suitable manner of association of the unit, as a cap, with a container may be employed, as for example the threaded construction shown in the drawing, or a snap-on arrange-.-

ment or a resilient grip. Housing 2! may he formed of any suitable material such as glass, rubber, plastic compositionsand the like, and is adapted to be moulded to effect cheapness in construction.

Essentially the housing 2 comprises a body portion 4, of tubular shape, in which is formed an opening 5 terminating at one extremity of the body portion in a restricted aperture 6.

The plug member 3 is received in the opening SabOVe'the'aperture 6 and comprises a rod-like structure of a size adapted to fit snugly within the opening 5. The plug may be formed of some substantially rigid material such as glass, hard rubber, plastic and the like, and is constructed so that it may allow air to pass through or around it to displace a fluid, and may also provide a passageway for the displaced fluid.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and a, I have shown the dispensing unit as a cap in threaded engagement with a bottle container 5.. Of these figures, 1, Z and 4 indicate a second threading it about which may be secured a similarly threaded protective cover 9 although the threads 8 and cover 5 may be eliminated if desired as illustrated in Fig. 3. a

In Fig. l plug 3 has been formed with an annular opening ll occurring centrally thereof which connects directly with the neck opening ill of container '5, and at its opposite extremity with a space above the restricted aperture 6 to provide a minute passageway for fluid to pass out of the container. In order for air displacement to take place in the container and freely release the fluid through the passageway referred to when in the inverted position shown, Ihave provided a relatively smaller opening 13 occurring transversely through the body portion 4 at any desired point therein, and connecting with opening I3 I have further provided a small slit or groove l2 in the periphery of the plug 3, which extends to the neck of the container. With the arrangement as shown a dispensing of fluid in the container may be effected in a droplet form and in a substantially uniformly timed manner. Adjustment is possible by completely stopping the air inlet l3 with the finger or by some mechanical stop if desired.

In Figs. 5 and '7 I have shown a modified plug construction IS in which passageways M are formed by cutting out flat sides on the plug 15. As before an air passage is effected at an opposite side by opening I 6 and slit M. It is pointed out that with an arrangement such as this there are present two passageways for fluid to pass out, which prevents inoperativeness of the device if clogging should occur in a single bas sageway.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown another plug construction H3 in which passageways I9 are effected as already described. However, in this plug an air passage 20 is provided centrally of the plug to connect with an opening 2! occurring transversely through the body portion and the plug. For some sizes of dispensing units and for handling certain fluids as well as to facilithis arrangement may be tate construction, found desirable.

In Fig. I have shown a plug 22 with a modified type of slit or groove 23 which extends through the entire length of the plug. Also the end 24 of the plug may be beveled as shown to improve the connection of the slit with the space in the end of the body portion.

If desired, this slit construction may be employed in any of the several plug types shown and an advantage ensuing therefrom is that it 7 provides a drainage of fluid which might tend to seep into the slit and become locked therein with a slit extending only part Way.

As above stated, the use of the dispensing unit in any of its modified states has been described in connection with its use as a cap for a container. Reference has also been made to its serving for other purposes thana container cap and in Fig. 11 I have illustrated one other such use. This consists in utilizing a dispensing unit 25 having a passageway 26 with a suction member 21 to comprise a dropper.

While suitable operation may be obtained with the dispensing unit employed as a cap for a container, and functioning when the container is in an upended position, the unit may also be very readily adapted to use as a conventional suction dropper, that is, fluid may be drawn into the unit from the reduced end 28 by releasing the bulb 2'! while in a compressed state. Improved suction dropper functioning may then be obtained from the restricted flow of the dispensing unit cooperating with pressure on the bulb, or if desired substantially no pressure may be employed whatever, for very slow and measured dispensing of drops. It should be observed that by varying the siz of the outlet aperture and by varying the size of the slit for air passage, the rate of flow of a fluid in a droplet form may be adjusted to any 1. A combination container cover'and dropper comprising a tubular housing adapted to be received about the neck of a container, a reduced end portion formed in the housing, said end portion having an opening formed therein, a plug member fixed in the said opening, and said plug member being recessed to provide a plurality of passageways for passing fluids between itself and the inner surface of the reduced end portion of the cap.

2. As an article of manufacture a dispensing unit for measuring out fluid in droplet form comprising a hollow housing adapted to be threaded to a'container, a plug member fixed in the hollow housing, said plug member being recessed to present flat sides and further provided with a groove occurring on the surface of the plug between the said sides whereby the recessed sides may pass fluid and the said grooved portion may comprise a common passage for both air and fluid.

3. The combination with a container cap,.of dropper meanscomprising a plug member fixed internally of the said cap, thesurface of said plug being recessed to provide passageways between itself and the said cap for permitting passage of liquids therethrough in a restricted manner, the said passageways extending throughout the length of said-plug member and said cap having an opening formed therein connecting with one of the said plug passages at a point" intermediate the extremities of the said plug.

4. An improved liquid dropper comprising in combination a tubular member, a compressible bulb located about one end of said tubular member, the opposite end of the tubular member being formed with a reduced extremity, a plug member received in the said restricted end of the tubular member, said plug member being recessed to present passageways between'itself and the tubular member, and said tubular member provided with an opening occurring transversely therethrough and connecting with one of the i i 

